Civilization and Beyond eBook

Second, organized counter-revolution could
be liquidated and revolutionaries, willing to take
on the responsibility, could be provided with necessary
authority, leadership and equipment.

Third, moving along with the formulation and
fulfillment of carefully developed plans for socialist
construction in all of its ramifications, to close
the door gradually, step by considered step, on exploitation
and profiteering. In their places, well-laid plans
could be drawn up for developing a people’s
socialist-communist economy in the more backward areas
of Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Fourth, the new economy could be federated
as it was established and stabilized, with special
attention to the need for a maximum of local self
help to balance against pressures toward bureaucracy
and the development of overhead costs.

Fifth, with one eye on its need for integration
into a socialist-communist collective planetary economy,
the other eye must be kept on the planetary chain
of which the earth is an essential part.

Life is a process operating through the linking of
causes and their effects. This is as true of
social life as it is of individual life. Reviewing
history we check man’s past actions and learn
by so doing. Turning to the future we plan and
prepare to set in motion that conglomerate of causes
(plans) best calculated to assure a good life individually,
socially, cosmically—­with a strong emphasis
on the time honored sequence: good, better, best.

It is our opportunity, our destiny, and our responsibility
to keep on living, constructing, creating. We
must live, not die. We must not stop. We
must go on.

By such steps we humans could by-pass the restrictions
and limitations imposed on human creative genius by
the structure and function of civilization. In
its place we could elaborate a substitute inter-planetary
culture in which a chastened, improved, rejuvenated
humanity could play a creative role, in accordance
with our capacities and our destiny as an integral
part of the joint enterprise to which our sun furnishes
light, warmth and vibrant energy. We have latent
among us the talent and genius necessary to play such
a part. Do we also have the imagination, courage
and daring to accept the challenge and take our post
of duty in the team that is directing the expansion
of our expanding universe?

SUGGESTED READINGS AND REFERENCES

Among the books consulted in preparation of this essay
on civilization as a social institution, UNESCO History
of Mankind holds first place. The authors
describe the work as “the first global history,
planned and executed from an international viewpoint”.
The subtitle of the six volumes is “Cultural
and Scientific Development”.

The work is published under the auspices of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
by an International Commission presided over by Professor
Pauls E. deBerredo Carneiro of Brazil. The Commission
consists of 23 members, mostly academicians from 23
countries. The commission also has a corresponding
membership of 93 drawn chiefly from the academic personnel
of 42 countries.